Why Bike Tours Should Be on Everyone’s Bucket List
Staying motivated to ride can be tricky, especially when cycling becomes routine. Here’s why a bike tour gave me a new reason to train, explore, and rediscover my love for cycling.
I’ve always loved riding bikes. But after years of doing regular group rides—often the same roads every weekend—I found myself losing enthusiasm, particularly during the cold, dark UK winters. My good friend and I started Port Velo because we wanted to rediscover cycling in a fresh way. We wanted rides with a purpose, not just turning pedals for the sake of it, because that’s what cyclists do.
That’s when we discovered the enjoyment of bike tours.
Rediscovering My Passion for Cycling
Before we started Port Velo, my motivation to ride had begun to wane. Cycling had become repetitive. I was looking for something different, something meaningful. Then I booked a cycling tour. It gave me something to look forward to without any pressure of competition or being faster than anyone else.
Preparing for the tour gave me a clear goal. It inspired me to get back into training—not to beat someone else, but to make sure I enjoyed every moment of the ride. Suddenly, cycling felt new again.
Turning Fitness into Adventure
Our first tour was in Tuscany, exploring the beautiful Chianti region. The trip was planned to be challenging enough to feel rewarding, but not so intense that it stopped being enjoyable. There were good meals, great wine, and a comfortable place to stay every night. It sounded perfect.
Still, I worried about whether I was ready. I hadn’t ridden regularly for months. But having a date circled on the calendar helped. Knowing I had an exciting trip coming up gave me a reason to ride regularly again.
Slowly, the pleasure of riding returned. Riding became something I wanted to do, rather than something I felt I had to. Each ride felt like progress, not just preparation. By the time the tour arrived, I was genuinely excited to ride.
The Joy of Touring vs. Bikepacking
There’s often confusion between bike touring and bikepacking. They’re very different experiences.
Bikepacking usually involves carrying everything yourself—tent, food, clothes—and sleeping wherever you stop. It’s adventurous but requires lots of preparation and self-reliance.
Bike tours, on the other hand, are usually organised trips. You ride during the day and stay somewhere comfortable at night. It’s less about survival and more about enjoyment. Your luggage is transported, meals are provided, and you have a comfy bed each night. It allows you to focus entirely on the cycling and the scenery.
Tours range widely in difficulty. Some are perfect for beginners, while others suit experienced cyclists looking for a challenge. You choose what suits you.
Why Guided Tours Make Sense
Choosing a guided bike tour made sense to me. Firstly, it removed the hassle of planning. Life is busy enough without having to organise hotels, routes, and restaurants. Secondly, guided tours help you experience places in ways you might otherwise miss.
For many cyclists, especially women, guided tours provide an extra sense of security. According to recent surveys, most female cyclists feel safer riding in groups, particularly in unfamiliar areas. Guided tours ensure you’re never alone, reducing stress and letting you fully relax.
There’s also the benefit of local knowledge. Guides know hidden roads, great cafes, and scenic routes that might otherwise remain undiscovered. If you’re travelling somewhere new, guided tours maximise your enjoyment.
Enjoyment Without Pressure
One of the best aspects of bike touring is that there’s no need for competition. Unlike group rides or events where speed often matters, touring focuses purely on enjoyment. You ride at your own pace, stop when you like, and soak in your surroundings.
Our Tuscany tour was all about enjoyment. Riding with like-minded people made it special. There was no rush, no one trying to push the pace. Instead, we supported each other. We stopped regularly, took photos, enjoyed meals, and laughed along the way.
This style of riding reminded me why I started cycling in the first place. It was about freedom, exploration, and shared experiences—not about beating anyone else.
Preparing for a Tour
Preparing for a bike tour varies hugely from tour to tour, especially where gear and planning things like hotels and food stops are concerned. If you’re booking a bike tour with a company, do your research before hitting ‘book now’ so you know exactly what you’re getting. Some questions to ask yourself include:
- Will you be riding with a group, or is it every man or woman for him or herself?
- Do you need to bring your own bike? If not, what bike will you be riding?
- Are meals included?
- Is there support on the route if you get a flat or your electronic shifting dies?
- Do you need to bring your own snacks, or will they provide ride fuel?
Depending on the tour, you may need to pack some extras like your saddle bag or a burrito-style bag for the front of your bike to bring snacks. (That’s not the case with Port Velo—if you’re hungry, just wave a hand and the follow van will drop you a bar if you don’t have one in your pocket!)
Knowing what to expect helps you pack appropriately and reduces pre-trip anxiety.
1. Check the Distance and Elevation Stats
Not all bike tours are created equal! Even within a company, daily distance and total elevation can vary from trip to trip. Some of Port Velo tours are climbing-focused, like the adventures in the Dolomites, while some are a bit milder, like the Strada Bianche.
A good touring company will share distance and elevation stats for each day on their website so you can compare and consider what makes sense for you. Use that information and compare it to your last few months of riding, looking at your log on Strava and your riding activities. Have you done similar rides, or will those climbing days be your biggest ever? Some people love a hard challenge on a bike tour, others want to simply enjoy the time on the bike.
Make sure you understand what you’re signing up for—this helps you prepare accordingly.
2. Check Group Ride Status
It’s important to know if you’ll be riding with a group or if you’ll be on your own. If you’re riding with a group, you’ll want to spend some time brushing up on your group riding and drafting skills if you’ve been mostly riding solo. If you only do group rides, but this trip will be more ‘at your own pace,’ you may want to do some solo rides ahead of time to remind yourself of what riding into a headwind solo feels like.
3. Check the Terrain
Now that gravel riding is becoming more popular, a lot more bike tours are offering gravel cycling tours. At Port Velo, there’s the now famous Strada Bianche gravel trip that’s a twist on the classic Tuscany trip, focusing on the white gravel roads that made the Strade Bianche race the legend that it is. Gravel roads on your tour mean you should have some experience with handling a gravel bike on rough roads—and you’ll need to remember that 50 miles of gravel will go slower than 50 miles of road.
Training for Enjoyment, Not Performance
Even though touring is relaxed, it’s still worth preparing physically. The fitter you are, the more enjoyable the trip becomes. Instead of training to race or beat a personal best, you’re training to enhance your enjoyment. The anticipation and preparation themselves become sources of happiness.
Research shows that planning and anticipating a trip increases happiness almost as much as the trip itself. This was certainly true for me. Knowing I had a cycling trip coming up, my regular rides became more enjoyable, simply because they had a purpose.
Finding the Right Training Balance
Training for a bike tour doesn’t have to mean countless hours of structured workouts. It’s about consistency and enjoying the process. Aim to ride regularly, gradually increasing distance or difficulty. Keep it simple and fun, ensuring each ride leaves you excited for the next one.
You don’t need to train endlessly. You just need to be consistent. Regular riding builds endurance and confidence, ensuring you arrive on the tour ready to fully enjoy it.
The Right Gear Matters
Choosing appropriate gear makes a big difference to your experience. For organised tours, most things are taken care of, but some essentials might still be your responsibility:
- Comfortable cycling clothing
- Suitable footwear
- Personal items like sunglasses, sunscreen, and a rain jacket
Being prepared with the right gear enhances your comfort and enjoyment on tour days. Check out our other articles on preparing for a cycling tour, from packing your bike to the essentials checklist.
Cycling Tours for Everyone
One of the best things about bike tours is that they suit nearly every cyclist. Whether you’re relatively new to riding or have many years of experience, there’s a tour to match your level.
Tours offer more than just cycling. They provide the chance to experience new places, cultures, and landscapes in a unique way. You see things differently from the saddle, noticing details you’d miss from a car or bus.
Social Connection and Shared Experiences
Another great aspect of bike tours is the social connection. Riding with others creates shared memories and lasting friendships. Cycling together, eating together, and exploring together forms bonds that extend beyond the tour itself.
Physical and Mental Health Benefits
Cycling tours also offer significant health benefits. Regular cycling improves cardiovascular health, strengthens muscles, and boosts endurance. But the mental benefits are equally valuable.
Touring reduces stress, enhances mood, and helps you disconnect from everyday pressures. Time spent outdoors, riding and exploring, naturally boosts mental wellbeing. It’s a refreshing break from daily life, leaving you feeling rejuvenated and motivated.
A New Perspective
Perhaps the greatest benefit of bike touring is the fresh perspective it provides. It’s easy to get stuck in routine rides, repeating the same routes and habits. Touring breaks this cycle, showing you new ways to enjoy cycling.
By seeing new places and meeting new people, your appreciation for cycling deepens. You remember why you started riding in the first place—the joy, freedom, and adventure.
Why You Should Try It
If you’re feeling stuck or bored with your cycling, a bike tour could be exactly what you need. It’s an opportunity to refresh your passion for riding, explore amazing places, and connect with others.
Whether you choose a guided tour for convenience and support, or prefer planning your own adventure, bike tours offer something unique. They remind you that cycling is about more than just training. It’s about experiences, friendships, and personal growth.
Making Cycling Fun Again
For me, bike touring completely changed how I viewed cycling. It became less about numbers and performance, and more about enjoyment and experiences. It took away the pressure and replaced it with anticipation, curiosity, and joy.
When my friend and I started Port Velo, we did it precisely because we wanted cycling to be fun again. We wanted to ride with others who felt the same way—people looking for adventure rather than competition.
This shift in focus made cycling feel exciting once more. It gave us reasons to get out and ride, even on cold winter mornings. We had a purpose beyond simply pedalling—each ride was building towards something meaningful.
Finding Your Adventure
If cycling has started feeling routine or if you’re looking for new reasons to ride, consider a bike tour. It might be just what you need to reconnect with the joy of cycling.
Bike touring offers adventure without stress, friendship without pressure, and fitness without competitiveness. It’s cycling stripped back to its purest form—just you, the bike, and endless possibilities.
When you reach the top of a climb on your tour and look out over a beautiful landscape, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment that goes beyond fitness goals. You’ll feel connected to the world around you, grateful for the opportunity to experience something special.
Once you experience this, you’ll understand exactly why bike tours belong on everyone’s bucket list. And you’ll immediately start planning your next adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions (SEO FAQs)
1. What is the difference between bike touring and bikepacking?
Bike touring typically involves staying in accommodations with luggage support, meals, and planned routes. Bikepacking is more self-supported, involving camping and carrying all your gear.
2. Are bike tours suitable for beginners?
Yes! Many bike tours cater to all skill levels. Beginners can choose less intense routes while enjoying guided support and structured itineraries.
3. How should I train for a multi-day bike tour?
Train consistently, focusing on building endurance rather than speed. Try to mimic tour conditions with back-to-back long rides on varied terrain.
4. What gear do I need for a guided cycling tour?
Comfortable cycling clothes, suitable footwear, basic tools, sunscreen, sunglasses, and weather-appropriate layers. Most guided tours provide essentials like food and mechanical support.
5. Do I need to bring my own bike on a cycling tour?
It depends. Some tours offer high-quality rental bikes, while others allow or recommend bringing your own. Always check with the tour provider in advance.
6. Are bike tours worth it for experienced cyclists?
Absolutely. Even seasoned riders benefit from the structure, support, scenic routes, and cultural experiences that bike tours provide.
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